Method for forming metal blanks or the like for cutlery articles, tools and other instruments or purposes.



H TOLPUTT. METHOD FOR FORMING METAL BLANKS OR THE LIKE FOR CUTLERY ARTICLES, TOOLS, AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS 0R PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1912.

Patented Apr. 13,1915.

IHE NORRIS PETERS CQ. PHDTG-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

H. TOLPUTT. METHOD FOR FORMING METAL BLANKS OR THE LIKE FOR CUTLERY ARTICLES, TOOLS, AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS 0R PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1912.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS c0. PHoTo-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. c.

H. TOLPUTT.

METHOD FOR FORIVHNG METAL BLANKS OR THE LIKE FOR CUTLERY ARTICLES, TOOLS, AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS 0R PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, I912.

Patented Apr 13, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l L"Q- L I I-- I 1 i 6 tifl E 7HE NORRIS PETERS CO PHOTC-LITHOU WASHINGTUN. D c

H. TOLPUTT. I METHOD FOR FORMING METAL BLANKS OR THE LlKE FOR CUTLERY ARTICLES, TOOLS, AND OTHER iNSTRUMENTS 0R PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, I912.

Patented. Apr-.13, 11915.

6 SHEETSBHEET 4.

IHE NUK'RIS PETERS Ca, PHOTO-LITHOU WASHINGTON. D. c

H. TOLPUTT.

METHOD FOR FORMING METAL BLANKS OR THE LIKE FOR CUTLERY ARTICLES, TOOLS, AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS 0R PURPOSES. m APPLICATION FILED Nov. 18. 1912. L1 @& Patented Apr. 13, 1915 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

NURRIS PETERS CO, PHom-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D, C.

" .1 PAT HERBERT TOLPUTT, 0F SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND.

METHOD FOR FORMING METAL BLANKS OR THE LIKE FOR, CUTLEEY ARTICLES, TOOLS, AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS 0E PURPOSES.

asses.

Application filed November 18, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT TOLPUTT, tool engineer, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Heeley Mills, Saxon Road, Sheiiield, in the county of York, England have invented a certain new or Improved Method for Forming Metal Blanks or the like for Cutlery Articles Tools, and other Instruments or Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new or improved. method or process of forming specially shaped metal blanks or the like such as for cutlery articles, tools and other instruments or purposes; and consists of a process for manufacturing such metal blanks or the like shaped and completed in only two operations direct from a sheet or strip of metal such as sheet steel the first operation consisting in subjecting such metal sheet or strip to the squeezing action of recessed dies to thereby press a part of said sheet or strip into the desired shape or form of the article to be made and the second operation consisting in subjecting this pressed part to the action of cutting dies or tools (such as a hollow punch or cutter) having the desired shape in outline of the completed blank by which last-named operation the said article or blank is out out of and entirely removed from said sheet or strip of metal.

In carrying out the present invention 1 place a sheet of any suitable metal such as sheet steel between special rocking rolls or rocking jaws which act as squeezing and shaping jaws and squeeze a part of the sheet metal into the desired form of the article to be made for example the approximate shape for the tapering form or-bevel of the blade of a pocket knife 2'. 6. they roughly form the blade portion but not the tang, and the sheet metal with such blade portion still left adhering (by the fash) to said sheet metal plate is then subjected to a second operation by a second and separate tool or machine such as a hollow punch or hollow cutters provided either in the same machine or in a separate machine and in this second operation the blade is cut all around to the exact form and at the same time the tang is out out to the exact final form so that no filing or further shaping of said tang Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13 1915.

Serial no. 732,081.

or blade is required and the now shaped blade with the finally shaped tang thereto is, in this second operation, cut clear out of the sheet metal by said hollow punch or cutters and is then ready for grinding or glazing or polishing or such like finishing operation. Or the present invention may be carried into practice in either of the following manners :The sheet metal (as described above) is placed under squeezing jaws or dies one or both of which aws or dies approach toward and recede from one another in a straight line as for example in vertical guides (in place of the rolling or rocking motion imparted to such jaws or dies as above described) and thereby the preliminary shaping action or operation is effected or the preliminary shaping of the article to be 1 formed or of a part of said article is effected as for instance the tapering shape is imparted in forming a blade for pocket knives and thereby the tapering part of such blade is formed in the sheet metal without however cutting out the tang or separating the blank from the metal sheet. Next the sheet metal with the now partly formed blade portion therein is removed from the machine or from the tools in or by which this first operation is performed and is put under a separate pair of cutters or a hollow punch or the like or other suitable tool or tools in the same or in a separate machine where the second operation is performed viz. the blade is cut all around into exact shape and the tang is simultaneously cut out in the exact shape ready for glazing or polishing etc.without requiring any further shaping operation such as filing. For carrying out this second operation according to the presentinvention-as also in the case of the second operation of the first described process-one of the dies or cutters may be shaped in outline exactly to the contour of the finished knife blade and tang, and such die or cutter may be recessed or sunk as a counter part to the side of the blade 2'. 6. so as to fit the sloping or tapering side of the blade; while the other die or cutter is formed like a hollow punch 01"- the exact contour of the finished blade and tang so that on the two dies or cutters being forced together the blade with tang in its final form is cut out of the metal sheet or strip and forced by themale die into the hollow portion of the female die or hollow punch. In this said second operation, in cutting out or forming blades for pocket knives the tang is thus cut out or formed as aforesaid (simultaneously with the cutting out of the partly formed blade) and said tang is at same time shaped all around in the exact and final shape ready for fitting to the knife handle first requiring glazing or/and polishing etc. as desired; and thus obviating any subsequent filinginto shape of the tang as in the method heretofore employed. The nail mark (if used or required in the blade) asalso the center punch or center hole in the tang may advantageously respectively be formed during the first operation e. the blade shaping operation) or/ and during the aforesaid econd operation of cutting out the said blade and tang. 01 according to the present invention I may form metal blanks or the like for cutlery articles tools and other instruments or purposes in one single operation by the following method and means. I may employ two dies adapted to approach toward and recede from one another i any suitable manner (6. g. in a vertical line or otherwise) and operated by any suitable means; and the contour of one or both of said dies corresponds with the contour of the finished article (blank) as for example in the case of a blade for pocket knives each die would be formed solid and may each have a contour corresponding to the contour of the finished blade and tang; and each such die is recessed or sunk or so formed as to correspond with the shape of the side face of the blade and tang, and each such recess or sink of a depth equal to say half the thickness of the blade or other article, so that when the two dies are forced together the cavity or mold formed between same by said respective recesses thus corresponds (or approximately corresponds) .with the form or shape of the knife blade or other article (blank) to be made. Thus the recess or sunk portions of said dies may together form a space exactly corresponding with or rather less than the thickness of the knife blade or other article to be formed. One of these tools or dies is provided with a closely fitting slidable sleeve or cutter member adapted to be reciprocated upon or independently of the die which same surrounds or/and said die may be adapted to be reciprocated independently of said sleeve or the two dies may be slidable through said sleeve or cutter member. Thus when the metal sheet from which the blank is to be formed is placed between said pair of dies and the latter are forced together or forcibly caused to approach each other thereby the blank is shaped or formed, and thereafter (while the blank remains held in the dies) the said sleeve or cutter is caused or allowed to operate so as to cut off the shaped blank all around exactly to the contour of the article to be formed; and the blank or article thus formed is then removed from the die.

It will readily be seen that this invention may be employed and will act in a similar manner for forming the blanks for other articles such as razor blades, scissors, tools or tool blades or for other instruments or articles or for any other purposes to which same may be applicable and of any suitable form or shape such as round, concave, half round, oval, hollowed, etc., shapes and tapering across or lengthwise or both.

This invention may be carried into practice with the sheet or strip of any suitable meetal (such as sheet steel) in a cold state if of soft quality or annealed very soft; or same may be heated if desired for example it may be heated if hard metal is employed.

The blank thus formed is now all ready for grinding or/and glazing or/and polishing but can with great economy be glazed and polished only thereby doing without any process of grinding.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:Figures 1 to 4 illustrate the firstnamed method and means, and Figs. 5 to 9 illustrate the second above-named method and means.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to et:Fig. 1 is an end view or diagrammatic view of a pair of rocking rolls or rocker frames carrying therein the special squeezing and shaping jaws in accordance with the first part of this invention. Fig. 2 is a local view (plan) of one end of a piece of sheet metal showing the operation performed thereon by the said squeezing and shaping jaws in said rocking rolls. Fig. 3 is an end view and Fig. l is a front view of the said rocking rolls (carrying said squeezing jaws) mounted and arranged to act in a standard or frame and showing the means of operating same.

A A are the rocking rolls or rocking members (approximately oval or ovoid in shape) each said roll or member being adapted to rock or turn upon the axis B placed toward one end of the oval or ovoid which end of the said rolls I will term the rear end as distinct from the other end of each said roll which I term the front endat or toward which latter the squeezing jaws C are located in said rolls. Ihe shaft or axis B of each said roll is journaled or mounted in a housing or bearing D in the standard or frame E in which latter said housings or bearings D may be supported and adjusted in any known or desired manner; as for example the housings D may be mounted upon adjustable packing blocks F at any desired distance from the bottom of the standard,

posed between said bearings or housings D and the latter forced together by means of the adjustable screw E operated by the hand wheel E screwing in the said frame or standard E.

On the end of each shaft or axis B there is rigidly fixed a crank B and said two cranks B are operated by the well-known toggle motion such as shown in Figs. 3 and 4: by means of the links B and pin 13 which latter is guided and caused to travel back and forth along a fixed horizontal guideway not shown (which toggle motion being wellknown need not be here further described) so as to thereby positively and synchronously impart the desired rocking or rollin g motion to the rolls A and jaws C therein.

The jaws C are arranged and mounted (in any suitable manner) in the rolls A in such a position therein that when the rolls A. are rocked or turned the said jaws will be synchronously brought together exactly opposite one another so as to impart the desired squeezing and shaping action upon the end of the sheet metal Z (such as a strip of sheet steelsee Fig- 1). If desired more than one pair of jaws C may be mounted in one pair of rolls (such as A) which latter may be made longer or/and otherwise suitably modified for this purpose. The result of one such operation or squeezing action upon the metal strip Z is shown in Fig. 2 where as it will be seen the outline of the knife blade a has been imparted as well as tapering form of the sides of the blade part a and the nail mark or recess 2 for the finger nail formed in the said tapering shaped blade part a while the center punch or center hole a has been formed in the tang or part which will become the tang on completion of the second operation of cutting out the said blade and tang from said metal sheet Z.

The dotted lines in Fig. 1 represent the position of the rolls A when the squeezing jaws C are in the open or separated position and the fulllines represent the position of r the rolls when same have been rocked or moved into the position where the jaws C perform the squeezing operation.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 9:Fig. 5 is a view in plan of part of a strip of sheet metal (sheet steel) showing the first and second operations performed on such metal strip by the second described method and means in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 6 shows the shaped knife blade and tang cut out of said strip according to this method. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the squeezing jaws or dies H H one or both of which approach and recede from one another (vertically) in a straight line (in place of the rolling or rocking motion before described) and thereby impart the preliminary shaping operation on the blade part as shown at e in Fig. 5; while Fig. 7 shows the pair of cutters (viz. male part I and female part or hollow punch P) or the like by means of which cutters I I the blade 2 with tang (Fig. 6) is cut out all around into the exact shape out of the sheet metal strip Z. Fig. 8 shows a modification of this method viz. the top squeezing jaw or die H and top cutter I or hollow plunger or the like being mounted in one machine and on one carrier or support J and similarly the bottom squeezing jaw or die H and bottom cutter or hollow punch I both mounted on the one carrier J in the same machine; so that these dies and cutters are simultaneously operated in a single machine. Fig. 9 is a view in elevation partly in section of a machine showing said dies H H and cutter I and I each mounted therein so as to be adapted to be removed and replaced by new dies or cutters as and when required.

The operation is as follows :'Ihe metal strip Z is inserted between the dies H H and the blade part 2 is shaped and the sides tapered and the nail mark a and center punch or center hole 2 put in all in one operation; and next this part of the metal strip Z is passed under the cutters I I and the knife blade with tang complete (Fig. 6) is cut out and removed from the strip Z (Fig. 5).

What I claim is l. The herein described process of manufacturing in only two operations shaped and completed metal blanks or the like, for the purposes specified, direct from a sheet or strip of metal such as sheet steel, the first operation consisting in subjecting such metal sheet or strip to the squeezing action of recessed dies to thereby press a part of said sheet or strip into the desired shape or form of the article to be made and the second operation consisting in subjecting this pressed part to the action of cutting dies or tools, such as a hollow punch or cutter, having the desired shape in outline of the completed blank by which last-named operation the said article or blank is cut out of and entirely removed from said sheet or strip of metal substantially as set forth.

2. The herein described process of manufacturing in only two operations shaped and completed metal blanks, to form the blades of pocket knives or the like, direct from a sheet or strip of metal such as sheet steel, which consists firstly in subjecting a sheet or strip of metal, such as sheet steel, or a part thereof to a squeezing operation between specially shaped dies to thereby form the tapering shape of the blade part of said blank and put in the nail mark and center hole and thereafter subjecting this pressed part to the action of a hollow punch or cutter whereby both the part to form the blade and the part to form the tang of In Witness whereof I have hereunto set said blade are simultaneously out, out all my hand in presence of two Witnesses. around into theexact shape of'the desired HERBERT TOLPUTT. blank ready-With the 'nail mark and center hole therein-for the finishing operation, substantially as set forth.

Witnesses:

RICE K. EVANS, LUTHER J. PARR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained-for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

